Came by here with some friends for a pre-climbing session caffeine / pastries stop. There's some limited seating inside, but when the store is busy they limit the indoor line to 6 people (which is honestly pretty nice for keeping noise levels down / maintain walking space). I ordered the black sesame latte and enjoyed how the flavor is there but doesn't overpower the drink. I also tried some of the miso caramel latte and liked the subtle flavors in that one as well. I was quite hungry, so I ordered two of the toasts (to share, but I ended up eating most of both). I liked the smoked salmon better, largely because there are so many more layers to the flavors in that one. In both, the milk toast adds a nice subtle sweetness and fluffiness to the other flavors. The ube mascarpone was good, but not as complex as the salmon. Service is pretty quick. The drinks came out almost immediately, even though they were pretty busy. Will definitely come back for the lattes and the smoked salmon toast read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Smoked salmon & ube mascarpone toasts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stopped by on an early Friday morning to see what the hype is all about. We still had to wait in a short line within the cafe. Out of the 3 drinks we ordered, the miso caramel latte was the standout. It was sweet, but the saltiness of the miso caramel helped to balance it out. I would order this again if we return. The sesame latte was way too sweet for me. Only order if you like extra sweet drinks. The matcha latte was not good at all. It tasted like iced milk, as there was barely any matcha (was a light green once mixed). I think it would help to serve these in a smaller cup so there's a lot less milk, or add extra ice to decrease the milk volume. I'm surprised that people seem to be really big fans of their matcha drinks, but it's possible that it was a consistency issue. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is the best matcha latte in the Bay Area (sorry not sorry!!) they prioritize quality and consistency over mass producing and batching (at least the times I have been). I usually go in the mornings around 7am on the weekdays and honestly because of the hype it has been getting I avoid coming on a Saturday because there's usually a line out the door. The service is attentive, and friendly. The vibe inside is very modern and they have anime playing on a TV. Baristas are sweet, and will give you suggestions if you're stuck. Lattes are aromatic and floral, and matcha is smooth and creamy. Must try's: Tahitian vanilla bean, Matcha latte with Kaizen Kumo, Earl Grey Matcha latte, strawberry matcha latte read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Vanilla latte and Earl Grey Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Be prepared to wait, even if you show up at opening (7am). The line moves pretty quickly, though. Love the Asian inspired flavors on the menu. I tried the black sesame latte, and it was the perfect warm, nutty drink for a chilly morning. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black sesame latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stopped by Kaizen after hearing about their matcha drinks and was sure happy I did! I ordered the jasmine tea with ceremonial matcha kumo (cold foam) and it was so good and refreshing. The matcha color was an impressive dark green and the jasmine tea paired well with it. I ordered it to go since the place is quite small and was very crowded, but I will be coming back soon to try their other matcha drinks and pastries. read more

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I saw this coffee shop pop up on my search as I was looking for places to check out while I was visiting the Bay and Kaizen did not disappoint! I got the Mission Mocha after looking over the menu and it was delicious! The chocolate mixed with the cinnamon and their smooth coffee was a wonderful combination and the gochutgaru gave a nice kick of heat on the back end and it wasn't too sweet overall. It also had a bit of nuttiness to it most likely from their use of dandelion chocolate. They have a good-sized menu with several signature drinks and a matcha section with some unique drinks like the coconut lemongrass matcha and the Miso Caramel. The shop was packed when I went and the line was out the door. There is counter seating available and some tables but they were all taken when I showed up in the early afternoon. The inside was bright and clean and modern. They also sell coffee beans and merch on the side of the counter. There are also pastries for sale as well. Service is friendly and drinks come out decently fast. I had my drink ready in less than 10 minutes. If you are looking for a new coffee shop to check out in San Mateo, come here! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Mission Mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love that they make their own syrups here! I went for a matcha latte w/oat milk and Tahitian vanilla syrup. They get their matcha from Japan and hand whisk. It was very tasty. My partner had a cold brew and miso carmel, he enjoyed both. Service was surprisingly fast and friendly. Unfortunately, they were out of pastries on a Tuesday afternoon. So you probably need to come earlier. I can see parking being annoying, but we were lucky to get a spot in front on the street. Lots of seating inside. Love the modern vibes, kinda felt like a club with the loud music though. No pet friendly seating outside. read more

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Stumbled across this cafe looking for a place to do some work on my computer and I was pleasantly surprised at how many matcha options there were! I wanted to try the food but there weren't any more at 2:30pm on a Tuesday. I got the black sesame matcha latte and I loved how the nutty flavor balanced out the matcha perfectly. It came out pretty quick too. There are a good amount of tables but they're pretty small so it can get crowded. There's some street parking right outside too. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Black sesame matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

We went here 3 days in a row and we are only in the area for 3 days which shows how good the coffee here is. The miso is amazing! All the house made syrups are fantastic the entire staff each day was very positive and welcoming! There is some seating as well for anyone who wants to stay there for some time! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Got the matcha sesame latte - flavours blended so well together and not too sweet. The toast was amazing. The Ube and raspberry flavours worked so well together. Although each bite was light, the dish was filling enough for breakfast. read more

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miso in love w da miso caramel coffeeeeeeeeee!! i was lowkey skeptical about miso in coffee but it actually worked so well and complemented the caramel perfectly. new flavor combo unlocked fr. it wasn't too sweet at all and tasted great with the normal settings. my friend got the black sesame coffee and it was lowkey not it the coffee itself was good but the sesame didn't pair that well here. i've had better black sesame drinks elsewhere so i wouldn't get that one again. read more

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I've always passed by Kaizen & Coffee and finally got a chance to try it this past Sunday morning. Super hipster vibes. The service at the counter was nice but the y got a few things wrong on the order. The mochi cakes were supposed to be warmed up but weren't. So these weren't special. The hazelnut chocolate croissant and pistachio blackberry croissants were good. But they were pretty sweet and rich. Street parking only read more

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Service was efficient and kind. For our first time visiting, we didn't know the queue extended to the outside to provide sufficient space for those waiting inside. I appreciate this thoughtfulness and organization to lessen chaos inside the cafe. When it was our turn to order, the employee was very patient while we explored the menu aloud with them, and they offered a non-caffeinated milk drink for our young one. The ambiance was very chill as workers did their thing and looked focused and relaxed at the same time. Service was kind and efficient. Drinks came out in a timely manner and tasted delicious. We could then taste for ourselves why this place has been raved about (at least in my circle). Well come by again. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Strawberry March with oatmilk, Strawberry milk with oatmilk, and Iced Okinawa brown sugar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a line out the door. It went by relatively quickly but the real challenge is finding a seat inside. We tried the hojicha latte (9/10) and early grey matcha latte (10/10). Both drinks had very strong hojicha/matcha flavors which were great. I asked for less ice and the drinks came out without being filled to the top. They ran out of pastries by the time we got there so you should go early if you want those. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Earl grey matcha Hojicha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

It was a cold Tuesday afternoon. My partner and I had class in a bit, but needed a quick caffeine pick me up. We decided to try out Kaizen & Coffee in San Mateo, and we have become regulars now. Everything here is so awesome. They are constantly adding new drinks to their menu and they have such unique inspired drinks. Though the drinks can get really expensive, they are truly handcrafted and this place is the best. My personal recommendations are the miso caramel, regular matcha, or earl grey matcha. Each of these is awesome on their own, but if you add the kaizen kumo(salted cold foam), they are taken to the next level. They have the best cold foam I have tried. read more

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There was a pretty long line that went outside the door, but it went by fairly quickly. They are also fast with making the drinks, which is great. Hojicha latte - 4.5/5, i got 75% sweet with less ice. Good hojicha and nutty flavor! 75% sweet was perfect for me, so 100% would probably be good too. Black sesame latte - 3/5, 75% sweet. It comes with 2 shots of espresso, which made the drink very strong and bitter. Probably better with 100% sweetness read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Hojicha and black sesame - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Solid matcha and coffee!! This spot is located on a Main Street, so there's street parking in the area. It can get pretty packed here, but the line goes by fast! There's a good amount of seats and menu items. Their iced matcha latte is so good!! They use ceremonial matcha and I loved it!! I'd love to come and try their speciality coffees, everything looks yummy! I will defs be back! read more

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waited 20+ mins on a saturday morning. got the iced americano + miso caramel latte. both were really good. you can actually taste the notes, not just generic coffee. line was a bit of a wait but kinda worth it for the quality. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - miso caramel latte, iced americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Just dropping by once again to review this place for the third time the quality of their drinks are sooo good. I think I'm really in love with their matcha lattes. This time I got the earl grey matcha latte 50% sweet and it was heaven in a cup. $8 tho but very worth for a pick me up drink! Servers and vibes are always great. I went on a Sunday morning around 9am and there actually wasn't a long line. So it was a decent place to sit and catch up with friends or read a book/do some work. Other times the line is so long that you feel very claustrophobic. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Strawberry matcha latte, pistachio blackberry pastry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I had tried Kaizen when they first opened before they blew up and became a popular spot. I decided to give them a try again, and came back during a weekday to celebrate my coworkers birthday. I got the Earl Gray Matcha and she got the strawberry Matcha. We also took a Mexican mocha to go. All the drinks were very good. They were not too sweet, and they came out pretty quickly. We took the Mexican mocha back to another coworker who couldn't join us and she really loved it! The two of them ended up going back the next day for second round. We really loved the inside set up and the vibe. I can appreciate that they limit the number of guests inside. The line outside is mostly because they only allow six people in line inside at a time which is nice - people are not falling on top of each other and awkwardly all over the place. For me, personally, Kaizen was good but I'm not sure that I would go out of my way, struggle to find parking, and wait in line when there are many other small business options in San Mateo. I'd say it's something to check out if you're in the area. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Mexi mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Visited on a Sunday around 11am with a friend, cafe was pretty busy with a line of 3-4 guest ahead of us, took about 5 minutes to place our order. Most tables were taken when we arrived but there were several bar seats availible. Drink: Black Sesame Latte - good, nice slight sweet nutty toasted black sesame flavor, standard comes with whole milk which is what I ordered and foam was nice and creamy it fine bubbles, espresso flavor is very mild in this one which helped to highlight the black sesame House Pour Over - good, nice balanced profile, slightly roasted with a mild red fruit note and subtle acidity, loved that the tart acidic flavors were minimized, these do take a bit more time to prepare probably, latte came out fairly quick in 2-3 min pour over took probably 5-6min Food: Morning Bun - ok, we asked for this warmed up which i love when cafes offer this, bun it self had a nice warm cinnamon spice note with a hint of cardamom, fairly flakey, pastry did taste a little bit stale and not the freshest Service was good, quick order at the register and pick up drinks and food at the bar. Staff seems friendly and efficient in drink prep. Water is self serve, and they had an interesting scented coffee bar which you could mist a drink with a scent which I thought was fun. Cafe had about 5-6 tables and two areas of bar seating, minimalist clean design. Overall enjoyed Kaizen & Coffee, drinks were pretty good and loved that they stock some harder to find coffees, on our visit they had beans from South Korea which I rarely see in the bay area, would go back to pick up some beans and try a matcha on my next visit. read more

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I usually stop by this café on my way to SFO. It's conveniently located near the airport, has Wi-Fi, and serves good coffee. The ambience is nice with classic coffee shop vibes. There are about 4-5 seats at the bar where you can watch the baristas make your drink, which is a fun experience. There are also a few tables along the side and 5-6 window seats. It's almost always pretty packed, so I wouldn't recommend it as a place to study or get work done. Where it falls short for me is the value. The prices feel high for what you're getting. I came with a friend who's a serious coffee snob, and he mentioned the pour-over was made with water that was too hot, scalding the flavor though he admitted it could've just been someone new making it. I also tried the ube latte. While it was enjoyable, it didn't really taste like ube, so it felt a bit misleading compared to how it's advertised. Three stars feels a little harsh because the coffee is good and the café itself is pleasant. Ultimately, though, it just doesn't feel worth the price point. Side note: the bathroom is very clean and surprisingly nice, which is always appreciated. read more

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This was my first time trying this coffee shop. It was around 9 AM on a Saturday morning. There was about 15 people in line when I walked up. I would consider this pretty busy as it took about 20 minutes to get my drink. The staff was very friendly, efficient and full of smiles. I ordered the MISO caramel latte ($7) with oat milk for $.50 more to be safe with dairy. The drink was delicious as many others have noted, and I would definitely get that again. I also want to try some of the other popular options, including black, sesame and Ube for next time. They also serve a variety of food which looked appetizing. Inside is a bit small with limited seating but it's cute to stay for a bit if there's space. They only allow six people in line on the inside at a time and everyone else has to wait outside until the line moves forward. Overall, I would say this place is worth trying for their specialty coffees for special occasions, but not a regular daily coffee joint. read more

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3.5 stars because they're inconsistent. There's always a line here even when I go super early in the morning but it moves quickly and the drinks come out fast. Staff are very friendly and take time to make recommendations and chat with every customer. The first time I got a strawberry matcha and it was straight up milk. As you can see from the photos, the color was horrendous. I decided to give them another try recently, and I'm glad I did! The cashier recommended the Earl Grey Matcha and I really enjoyed it. The earl grey flavor was not too overpowering but for $8.50 I found the matcha to be lacking and drowned out. However, it was still a very solid drink. Their food options and pastries look good too and I'll be back to try those! read more

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Their matcha and hojicha lattes are excellent. Nice and strong tasting, good flavors. Smooth and rich. Both were great and I would definitely end up getting both again in the same visit lol. I found the coffee to be a bit more on the light roast side, so the taste was more acidic and fruity. Less body, really thin. The flat white was just okay for me. I would prefer more body and roast imo. The baked goods are from neighbor bakehouse in sf, really good stuff. The ham and cheese croissant was decently sized and tasty. Good amount of ham inside and nice assortment of seeds on top. Good flavor. Nice croissant. For parking, you'll have to look around the block(s) for a spot as it's all street parking. read more

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Good drinks. Service was pretty fast. Small and cozy inside with other patrons just staring at everyone who's waiting to order. Staff were pretty knowledgable about their coffee and had good recommendations on the bagged beans. Street parking. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Best coffee ever. Everything I've had has been spectacular Pasties very beautifully made read more

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On Sunday 11/30, went to Kaizen on the way up towards Downtown San Mateo. This place was cracking at 1030a! All the tables were taken, even the ones by the window. Great crowd and noise inside, without being overbearing. There is a sign at the door that asks only six people be in line at a time, but while I was the fourth person in line, there were four others behind me. By the time I left tho, others respected this sign. After the short wait, ordered a Slow-Drip Cold Brew along with a chocolate hazelnut croissant. Since I did not want the croissant toasted, that came out immediately. A couple minutes later the cold brew followed. Pretty straightforward, and did not have to wait long for my items. This is a must visit for us whenever in the area! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee, tea and toast menu since I was only interested in the cold brews. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've visited a few times now, and I'd recommend going on a weekday morning or afternoon if you can. Weekends tend to get very busy, with lines out the door. The standout for me is their iced miso caramel latte. It's not overly sweet, but still very flavorful. The miso adds a subtle depth that makes the caramel feel more balanced and slightly umami. It comes across as a more refined take on a flavored latte, and I really enjoy it. Their standard latte is decent, probably around a 6/10 for me. The espresso leans more on the fruity side, which just isn't my personal preference. One downside is that they've been out of pastries every time I've gone, which has been a bit disappointing. It would be great to see more consistent availability there. I'm not in the Bay Area often, and it's not necessarily a must-visit destination for me, but it's definitely a spot I enjoy stopping by when I'm nearby. read more

Occasionally the wife and I like to go see what's trending out with the kids in tow. I'd read about this place in local articles and had it on my list to try out. I did not expect the wait to be that brutal for the line. My wife braved it while I tried to find the near impossible parking near the SM expo center and El Camino Real across from Silver House. If she had gotten drinks only it would have been like 30 mins in line. Because she ordered the toast it took longer. I ordered the iced Okinawa Brown Sugar latte and found it to be good, strong, and slightly bitter. She ordered the iced black sesame latte and avocado toast with the suggested chili oil on top. I really enjoyed the toast. The avo and tomatoes tasted so fresh, flavorful, crunchy, and balanced. It wasn't too much of anything and all the textures worked so well together. Each bite was extremely satisfying and amazing. The price was a bit steep but it was filling and had a lot of wonderful ingredients on it. I want to try other things on the menu to get a better sense of what we like best. 4.5 stars due to the crazy parking situation and brutal wait. It was damn good but the combo of the hype and parking makes it hard to want to brave consistently for us. We'd definitely return though. read more

I'm glad I got to try this place but it's def not my style both in terms of drinks and ambience. Came on Sunday AM and waited in the line. Kinda went quickly but the place is so small that we were sure where we were going to take drinks and food. We managed to snag a table that was just leaving so that was good! I got the black sesame latte as I love black sesame but in coffee was just not my thing. I did get it iced so maybe it would've been better hot? Just tasted like a thick mush that I had to stir and whenever I took a sip, was extremely grainy, For the price, the quantity was much less than I was expecting, since they served it in a tall and narrow glass. Person I was with got the mocha and one of the toast items but no comments on either. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME OF THE SWEATIEST COFFEE OF YOUR LIFE? Well, look no further than Kaizen & Coffee. This San Mateo establishment is chock full of modern coffee charm, featuring coffee beans from the likes of Fritz, Kurasu, Hydrangea, and more! You know, the usual suspects for sweaty coffee. I love to see it. I think coffee could stand to get even more snobby. Makes it feel more fun if you're too deep. Well, anyways, they offer stuff for the average joe as well as your class-A coffee snob! They have flavored lattes like a miso one, a spicy chocolate one, etc. I liked both of them, but I also got a pour over which I really liked. None of the drinks we got were misses, so that was a great indicator that I would definitely come back to here. I ended up buying a bag of beans to enjoy later, and I left also wishing that this place was closer to me! Ugh, tragic that it's all the way in NorCal. You all are lucky to have it! read more

Definitely a popular spot. I came around 7:30am on a Thursday and there was already a significant amount of foot traffic. Street parking only nearby but it was easy in the morning. We had the ube croissant, ham and cheese croissant and the vanilla latte with almond. Croissants were delicious with the ube being my favorite. Amazing flakiness and flavor. The latte was good; I would request less sweetness next time. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Good coffee at a clearly well-loved spot! It was bustling the whole time I was here. Fairly limited seating but people are pretty courteous about how long they linger and it wasn't too tough to get a table and work on their wifi for a bit. High quality coffee and lots of interesting concoctions. My only disappointment was that I was very excited for the miso caramel latte and it ended up not tasting like miso at all. Such a cool idea and would love to see it with adjusted execution. On the whole a great spot! Lovely, lively ambiance and good beans! read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Miso caramel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I do not usually like to go to specialty coffee places. I feel like I am a pretty simple person so I am okay with a regular house coffee everyday. I was on a business trip and lucky for me, my co-worker loves these specialty coffee places and found this place, and I can't ever repay him! We went here before having to go to work. There was already a line outside at 8:30AM on a Thursday morning. The line was about 11 people (5 outside and the cap of 6 inside). The wait was not too bad.. about 15 minutes. I ordered the ube signature drink. This was the best coffee/ube drink that I have had. The key is that it was not too sweet, and you can taste the ube flavors, even when the coffee is a naturally strong flavor. Very balanced! My coworker had the vanilla bean signature drink. I had a sip. Although good, I do think the ube drink was better. The vanilla was just vanilla, but also not too sweet. The ube drink just trumped it. So much so, that my co-worker tried it, and is now an ube fan! Service was quick, friendly, and to the point. Very impressed that we were in and out of the shop within 10 minutes after our order. I hope one day that they open up a shop in Los Angeles. Until then, I will be hoping everyday that I am needed in San Mateo for another business trip! read more

I came here early on a Saturday morning to find quite the line already even at 7am. This was my first time here and came to realize that the hype was real. This is a fantastic coffee shop. It has a warm and fun atmosphere. I love the anime touches to the decor including a tv that shows that plays anime. The customer service here was super friendly and the person who took my order helped me decide what to get. I came here for a pour over, but I also got a Thai Tea Mochi muffin, which was very tasty. I got to talk more with the workers while my pour over was being made. The whole experience felt personal, which I loved. The pour over itself was delicious. I ordered their blend, which has a nice citrusy, brightness to it and does have notes of chocolate as well. Even though the line can be long I think this place is worth the wait. I'm happy I checked it out on my latest visit to the peninsula. read more

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Came to Kaizen around noon on a Sunday. The line was long, the pastries were gone, but we were determined to get our coffee. Most seating was taken by people eating toast or on their laptop and the space is pretty tight, but clean and modern. There's also quite a bit of retail, mostly of Japanese related merch, coffee beans and canned drinks. We waited about 10- 15 minutes for our drink, but were so excited once we ordered - they have an extensive signature drink list that will take multiple visits to taste! I ordered an iced ube latte and my boyfriend ordered the iced black sesame. I loved my drink - I'm a fan of sweet so it was just what I was looking for. I found the black sesame a bit too bitter but my boyfriend (who drinks mostly black coffee) enjoyed it. Definitely worth another visit -- But I'm coming earlier to try some of their yummy looking pastries (which were mostly sold out by noon)! read more

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Kaizen & Coffee is located on a busy street a few minutes away from downtown San Mateo. While I didn't find any dedicated parking garages in this area, street parking on a Sunday wasn't too bad. I visited in the afternoon and while the line was perpetually out the door, it moves pretty quickly. BEVERAGES The menu was really exciting to me due to the variety of Asian-inspired drinks, such as a black sesame latte or the iced ube latte. I ordered the iced ube latte and my friend ordered an iced strawberry matcha. The ube latte had a really beautiful layering of espresso, milk, and ube. I enjoyed my drink, but I thought the ube flavor could've been stronger. My friend's strawberry matcha was really delicious and had a strong fruit flavor. SERVICE The staff were really kind. We initially ordered our drinks "for here," but ended up changing our minds since it was quite crowded. They were really nice about transferring our drinks into to-go cups! The only thing is I wish they had more room for seats and tables given how popular they've become. read more

The real deal. An actual third-wave coffee experience. I find it very difficult to find a coffee place I like in a new area, because there's so many of them, and most of them are trash, where the coffee is burnt and over extracted. I like this place, I've been coming several times a week since I discovered it near my work After trying all the specialty lattes, the miso caramel latte is where I've landed as my favorite. It's an umami salted caramel, and it is great. read more

Cute small coffee shop. More of a to go place. It was very busy but once you order, coffee is made quickly. The staff were very nice. I got the sesame latte and it's so earthy and delicious. Not too sweet at all. Highly recommend. read more

Kaizen & Coffee - Sesame latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California